Mobile Learning

Alliance Member, Glasgow City College, has launched its first ever mobile learning app with fantastic results.

As part of Glasgow City College’s ongoing commitment to promote Equality and Diversity amongst the student population, the college commissioned a course that would run on both mobile and desktop platforms. “With Equality and diversity being such an issue at the moment for universities and colleges around the country, we decided to commission a course with Marshall ACM.” commented Graeme Brewster, Equality and Diversity Manager. “We noted that an exponential number of College Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) student sign-ins are being done on mobile devices (IOS/Android). Also, the College has a big drive on accessibility and digitisation contributed to the decision of creating a mobile friendly package.”

To ensure the course could reach as large an audience as possible, the app was designed to be compatible with all platforms whether they’re an iphone, Android of Windows device. Speaking about the design of the app, MD and founder of Marshall ACM David Marshall said: “We were very careful about the design of the course, we needed it to contain all the core messages but using a responsive interface that reflects the way we navigate on mobile”.

Since its launch the Equality and Diversity course has been taken by over 2500 registered students. To date, the feedback from students has shown that the course has been “very well received” prompting the college to measure the impact of the training in the months ahead. The success of the college’s Equality and Diversity programme has been highlighted by the Education Scotland in the annual report which states:

“The emphasis placed by the college on diversity and equality issues has a positive influence on staff, with staff identifying that this impacts positively on learning and teaching “every day, and in every lesson”. Staff and learners also appreciated the personal and curricular benefits of working and learning within a very diverse environment. The diversity of the college environment and the focus on equalities good practice has had a significant impact on the culture of the college. One member of staff commented that “equality and diversity has moved from a tick box exercise to be embedded within the culture – it doesn’t feel like an added extra any more”.